Carlos Correa’s return path got a little clearer for the Astros this week, and the next checkpoint could come as soon as Tuesday.
According to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, Correa is scheduled for a four-month checkup with a doctor, and the hope is that the veteran infielder will be cleared to start running the bases and even sliding. That would mark a major step forward as he continues to recover from a tendon tear in his left ankle.
“Espada said Carlos Correa has a four-month checkup with a doctor Tuesday, with hopes he could start running the bases and even [begin] sliding,” McTaggart reported.
Correa has been sidelined for several months, and the injury has already wiped out most of his season. He has played in only 32 games, leaving the Astros to wait on one of their most experienced bats while they try to make a late push in the regular season.
There is still no official timeline for his return. Correa, a 12-year veteran, would still need to clear more boxes before he can get back into a game, and the Astros would likely want him to spend time on a rehab assignment to rebuild his timing.
Before the ankle injury, Correa was giving Houston real production at the plate. In 122 at-bats, the three-time All-Star hit .279 with a .369 on-base percentage, collecting 34 hits, three home runs and 16 RBIs.
Houston has 26 games left, including Sunday’s matchup with the New York Mets. That gives Correa a narrow window to make it back, get his legs under him, and be ready for the postseason if the Astros clinch the AL West.
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